Time to question All-Star system

THE announcement of the All-Star hurling and football teams never fails to provide plenty of discussion. No more than with the selection of any team, there will always be different views as to who should be picked and in what position and this year’s selections have certainly led to plenty of debate.

When this scheme was launched back in 1971, it was welcomed by all in the GAA world. While there is still huge support for such a scheme, there appears to be widespread agreement that changes are required to the selection process. The basic principle at the outset, and its still supposed to be the case, is that the scheme honours the best hurlers and footballers over a year’s performance.

However, in more recent times, the All-Ireland finalists have dominated the selections and while they, by their progress, get to play the greater number of games and, accordingly, the greater number of chances to impress, its hardly the fairest selection method.

Surely there should be some form of points system and updates should be published if not monthly, then quarterly, during the season.
Not one of the 2013 hurling team managed to get into the 2014 side named on Friday night last. Did all of those who were honoured last year drop out of the limelight that much?

Clare had eight players on last year’s team. Conor McGrath was the only one to win a nomination this season and there is no doubt but that the Cratloe man’s inclusion in the final group from which the team was chosen was fully merited.

Indeed, the ever consistent Cratloe player, showed on Sunday last in Walsh Park in Waterford just why he should have been included in this year’s team. In very difficult conditions, he delivered a man of the match performance, scoring 2-4, as he helped Cratloe through to the Munster club championship semi-final. McGrath has delivered consistently good performances for club and county all season.

Just three counties are represented in this year’s All-Star team with the All-Ireland finalists, Kilkenny and Tipperary claiming 13 awards, while the remaining two went to Limerick. Munster champions, Cork failed to win an award, while Wexford, arguably the team that caused the greatest excitement in the campaign, were also ignored.

Despite the fact that Kilkenny also won the league title, the selectors awarded the greatest number of awards to beaten finalists, Tipperary, who picked up seven awards.

There were also a number of surprises in the football team, which was also named last week. Yes, Kieran Donaghy had a huge influence, as Kerry captured the Sam Maguire cup but Austin Stack’s man only got into the starting line up for the All-Ireland semi-final.

The All-Stars concept is good but surely it’s time for a change in the selection method.

Seamus Hayes, sports editor